Punkin Ale | Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

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Notes / Commercial Description:
A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, brown sugar and spices. As the season cools, this is the perfect beer to warm up with.

Punkin Ale is named after the seriously off-centered southern Delaware extravaganza Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made its debut as it claimed first prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Contest. Yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business!

Hands down this is the best bottled pumpkin brews I have ever had, it is nice to see a brewery have enough courage and inspiration not to brew a pumpkin soda-beer. I would not have expected anything less from Dogfish Head. Thankfully there are pumpkin beers like this that are not one and done.

APPEARANCE: The color is not what one might expect from a “full-bodied brown ale”. In fact, it is a bright, but hazy orange color. A half-finger of white head rises and falls within seconds of the initial pour. A layer of wispy foam remains, covering most of the surface of the beer. Quite a few bubbles can be seen popping up towards the surface at varying speeds, giving this beer a nice, lively look.

SMELL: Now the “brown ale” piece of this is coming through with a fair amount of roasted malt aromas that make up the majority of the smell. Just underneath that roast, though, is a very strong pumpkin smell…and not the fake, pumpkin pie smell (which I often like), this is the real deal, pumpkin smell. Some pie spices flirt with the nose as well, but they are subtle.

TASTE: The roast flavors match the aromas in intensity and, for this beer, dominate the flavor profile for me. And again, the true pumpkin flavor comes in right underneath it, but this time the spices are closer to the front and center than in the nose. The heavy roast also brings out what is almost a woody flavor, along with a touch of vanilla.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied and on the sweet side for an average beer, but a little dry for many Pumpkins on the market. There is a touch of stickiness on the front end, but it certainly dries while going down.

OVERALL: Dogfish Punkin is a pretty solid beer. I do appreciate that I can detect a lot more actual pumpkin flavor and aroma than in most others, but I would appreciate a little more sweet and spice. I’m sure many people out there may prefer this, however.

This is just a straight up good ale from Dogfish Head. The first aromas that hit me were a vegetal smell of the pumpkin, and a baking spice medley (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg). This beer looks great in the glass, nice creamy off white head and a hazy appearance that makes you think you're about to drink a meal. The brown sugar and pumpkin pie spices are nicely attenuated. This beer is not a spice bomb like so many seasonal pumpkin beers are relegated to. The finish is really appealing, mouth coating but not too heavy. That said I think I'd only have one of these in a session. It's a nice thing to start off with as the mercury drops and Halloween approaches.

A: The beer poured amber in color with just a few bubbles floating on the surface and a light amount of carbonation.
S: There's a moderate aroma of pumpkin, spices and sweetness in the aroma that comes very close to resembling pumpkin pie.
T: The taste has a good balance between sweetness and spices; the flavors of pumpkin, brown sugar and the spices really stand out.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and silky smooth.
D: The beer is very drinkable. I would definitely try this again because the taste is rather interesting and complex for the style.

Small retisicient head with a splash of lacing here and there that falls down into the pumpkin ale from time to time.

Smell is a light malt with a faint pumpkin to it, I'm sure had I grabbed it earlier it would've been much more in your face. That being said there is something warming, calm, and refreshing about the suggestion of pumpkin in the ale. Goes down extremely smooth and tastes great.

Really balanced, safe beer and with an autumn cheer. It is a very unartificial pumpkin flavor that resides in the back of the mouth. Light malts to help guide you to the flavor. Wet and refreshing once again on the palate. I dig this beer and look forward to trying it fresher. It aged quite well.

Taste: Lots of spice, very reminiscent of a winter warmer (GLBC Christmas Ale in particular). The pumpkin itself is almost undetectable, though there are definitely some fruity undertones.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, has a nice crisp carbonation but also a slightly syrupy feel.

Overall: As the label says, this really is a perfect beer to warm up with. Spices are front and center, so fortunately they are excellently blended and really match up with the platonic idea of pumpkin pie. I would love to have this with a little vanilla ice cream or just whipped cream on the side.

Smell: I had a difficult time pinpointing the spices in the smell so I asked my wife. She said it smelled like the floor of a frat house. I had 2 concerns. First I somewhat agreed. Second what the hell was she doing on the floor of a frat house.

Generously bubbled pumpkin orange capped by a pastel orange, whipped creamy head that is a perfect color match for the beer that created it. The three finger cap has a considerable amount of patience, but doesn't look sticky enough to grab and hold onto the glass. A lack of lace is a minor disappointment that doesn't spoil a very nice pumpkin beer look.

The nose is as expected: baked pumpkin flesh and pumpkin pie spices. Perhaps I should go along with Dogfish Head and start writing punkin'. I've smelled pumpkinier versions and I've smelled spicier versions, but this one can hold its own against all but the most aromatic. Amazingly enough, even at a relatively high pumpkin ale ABV of 7%, there's no alcohol evident in the nose.

This is lovely stuff, even if the alcohol is now easily appreciated. This is definitely a different sort of pumpkin ale, a stronger version of the usual gourd beer. It's sweet and malty with a generous amount of caramel flavor. The spices aren't as up-front on the palate. The label indicates that allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg were used. They're all identifiable, with none dominating the others.

If I was in charge at the brewery, I'd knock the ABV back a full 2% (or try harder to mask it) and would add more brown sugar and spice. It's their beer, though, so I guess I'll have to take it or leave it. Um... I'll take it. This really is a quality fall seasonal.

The decision to build a sturdier pumpkin ale pays dividends when it comes to the mouthfeel. It's a few notches more full than medium and is as smooth as heavy silk. Too many bubbles on the initial pour become just the right amount before very long at all.

Punkin' Ale is one of the better versions that I've run across. It doesn't seriously challenge my clear favorite (Smuttynose Pumpkin), but it's definitely worthwhile and is deliciously different. If you have any interest in the style whatsoever, I suggest you get Punk'd as soon as possible.

I have to say this one is the best pumpkin ale I have had a real nice brew.Pours a burnt orange color with a real nice creamy 1/2 inch head that leaves some nice lacing,aroma is of some serious nutmeg and cardimum with light cinnamon notes.Taste hits with a real pumpkin flavor with the sices hitting after the initial pumpkin flavor so you get the whole spectrum of flavors.A great all around beer definently with the weather changing right now.Very nice,had at Tavern 616 in North Wales,PA.

Deep red amber/orange and transparent. Minimal head, but nice tiny bubble action. Surprisingly not much in the way of aroma, not that I was expecting it to smell like a freshly baked pumpkin pie... but man, would that be sweet.

Strong alcohol backbone, and DOES taste surprisingly like pumpkin pie. No aftertaste to speak of, for better or worse.

Pours a collage of orange, copper, and amber with a thick, white, fluffy head. The aroma hits big with pumpkin aromas and spices. Heavy on the nutmeg as well, which gives off a bit of an "egg-nog" vibe - very cozy and very nice. Some alcohol warmth and fuzziness on the mouth, following bi with cinnamon, nutmeg, and faint pumpkin pie. Thin to medium body, slightly creamy and slightly crisp with lots of carbonation - overall a nice mouth.

Pretty good pumpkin beer. The price is a little steep, but it's definitely one of the more enjoyable pumpkin beers out there.